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1  UC-NRLF 


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•'DERTAG" 


OR 


THE  TRAGIC  MAN 


J.  M.  BARRIE 


CHARLES   SCRIBNER'S   SONS 


J^P 

'^^K 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2007  with  funding  from 

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"DER  TAG" 

OB 

THE  TRAGIC  MAN 


BOOKS  BY  J.  M.  BARRIE 

Published  by  CHARLES  SCRIBNER'S  SONS 

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4  4 


DER  TAG" 

OR 

THE  TRAGIC  MAN 


BY 

J.  M.  BARRIE 


NEW  YORK 

CHARLES  SCRIBNER'S  SONS 

1914 


Copyright.  1914,  by  J.  M.  BABBIE 

All  rights  reserved 


Published  December,  1914 


"DER  TAG" 

OB 

THE  TRAGIC  MAN 


CHARACTERS 

Emperor 

Chancellor 

Officer 

Spirit  of  Culture 


"DER  TAG" 

OR 

THE  TRAGIC  MAN 

A  bare  chamber  lighted  by  a  penny  dip  which 
casts  shadows.  On  a  hard  chair  by  a  table 
sits  an  Emperor  in  thought.  To  him  come  his 
Chancellor  and  an  Officer. 


Chancellor.  Your  Imperial  Majesty- 
Officer.  Sire 


Emperor  (the  Emperor  rises).  Is  that  the 

paper  ? 

(Indicating  a  paper  in  the  Chancel- 
lor's hand.) 
Chancellor  (presenting  it).  It  awaits  only 

your  Imperial  Majesty's  signature. 
Officer.  When  you  have  signed  that  paper, 

Sire,  the  Fatherland  will  be  at  war  with 

France  and  Russia. 
Emperor.  At  last,  this  little  paper 

3 


4  "  "DER  TAG" 

Chancellor.  Not  of  the  value  of  a  bird's 
feather  until  it  has  your  royal  signature. 
The 


Emperor.  Then  it  will  sing  round  the  planet. 
The  vibration  of  it  will  not  pass  in  a  hun- 
"N(  dred  years.  My  friend,  how  still  the 
world  has  grown  since  I  raised  this  pen ! 
All  Europe's  listening.  Europe !  That's 
Germany,  when  I  have  signed !  And 
yet 

Officer.  Your  Imperial  Majesty  is  not 
afraid  to  sign.^^ 

Emperor  (^a^Mngr).  Afraid! 

Officer  (abject).  Oh,  Sire! 

Emperor.  I  am  irresistible  to-day!  "Red 
blood  boils  in  my  veins.  To  me  every 
open  door  is  the  gift  of  a  world !  I  hear 
a  thousand  nightingales!  I  would  eat 
all  the  elephants  in  Hindustan  and  pick 
my  teeth  with  the  spire  of  Strassburg 
Cathedral." 

Officer.  That  is  the  Fatherland  to-day. 
Such  as  we  are,  that  you  have  made  us, 


"DER  TAG"  5 

each  seeking  to  copy  you  in  so  far  as  man 
can  repeat  his  deity.  It  was  you  fashioned 
us  into  a  sword,  Sire,  and  now  the  sword 
must  speak. 

Emperor  (approvingly).  There  the  sword 
spoke — and  yet  the  wise  one  said:  "Take 
not  your  enemies  together,  but  separately, 
lest  the  meal  go  to  them  instead  of  to 
you.''  One  at  a  time.  {To  Chancellor) 
Why  am  I  not  a  friend  of  Russia  till 
France  is  out  of  the  way,  or  France's 
friend  until  the  bear  is  muzzled.'^  That 
was  your  part. 

Chancellor.  For  that  I  strove,  but  their 
mean  minds  suspected  me.  Sire,  your 
signature ! 

Emperor.  What  of  Britain  ? 

Officer  (intently).  This — The  Day,  to  which 
we  have  so  often  drunk,  draws  near! 

Emperor.  The  Day!  To  The  Day!  (All  sa- 
lute The  Day  with  their  swords.)    But  when  ? 

Officer.   Now,  if  she  wants  it! 

Emperor.    There   is   no   road   to   Britain — 


6  "DER  TAG" 

until  our  neighbors  are  subdued.  Then, 
for  us,  there  will  be  no  roads  that  do  not 
lead  to  Britain. 

Chancellor  {suavely).  Your  Imperial  Maj- 
esty, Britain  will  not  join  in  just  now. 

Emperor.  If  I  was  sure  of  that ! 

Chancellor.  I  vouch  for  it.  So  well  weVe 
chosen  our  time,  it  finds  her  at  issue  with 
herself,  her  wild  women  let  loose,  her 
colonies  ready  to  turn  against  her,  Ireland 
aflame,  the  paltry  British  Army  sulking 
with  the  civic  powers. 

Emperor.  These  wounds  might  heal  sud- 
denly if  German  bugles  sounded.  It  is  a 
land  that  in  the  past  has  done  things. 

Officer.  In  the  past,  your  Imperial  Majesty, 
but  in  the  past  alone  lies  Britain's  great- 
ness. 

Emperor.  Yes,  that's  the  German  truth. 
Britain  has  grown  dull  and  sluggish;  a  belly 

^'  of  a  land,  she  lies  overfed;  no  dreams 
within  her  such  as  keep  powers  aUve — and 
timid,  too — without  red  blood  in  her,  but 


"DER  TAG''  7 

in  its  stead  a  thick,  yellowish  fluid.  The 
most  she'll  play  for  is  her  own  safety. 
Pretend  to  grant  her  that  and  she'll  seek 
her  soft  bed  again.  Britain's  part  in  the 
world's  making  is  done.  "I  was,"  her 
epitaph. 

Chancellor.  How  well  you  know  her.  Sire ! 
All  she  needs  is  some  small  excuse  for  say- 
ing, *^I  acted  in  the  best  interests  of  my 
money-bags."  That  excuse  I've  found  for 
her.  I  have  promised  in  your  name  a 
secret  compact  with  her,  that  if  she  stands 
aloof  the  parts  of  France  we  do  not  at 
present  need  we  will  not  at  present  take. 

Emperor.  A  secret  bargain  over  the  head  of 
France,  her  friend!  Surely  an  infamous 
proposal. 

Chancellor.  The  British  Government  will 
not  think  so.  Trust  me  to  know  them. 
Sire.     Your  signature  ? 

Emperor  (gleaming).  I  can  fling  a  million 
men  within  the  week  across  the  border  by 
way  of  Alsace  and  Lorraine. 


8  "DER  TAG" 

Officer  (with  a  frown).  There  are  a  hundred 
gates  to  open  that  way. 

Emperor.  My  guns  shall  open  them. 

Officer  {with  meaning).  You  can  think  of  no 
easier  road,  Sire  ? 

Emperor.  I  think  of  it  night  and  day. 

Officer.  One  further  north — through  Bel- 
gium? 

Emperor.  If  I  could  dare !  But  no,  that  road 
is  barred. 

Officer  (misunderstanding).  On  the  con- 
trary. Sire 

Emperor.   Barred  by  a  fortress  no  gun  of 
mine   may   bear   against — ^by   honor,   by 
/ri           my  plighted  word. 
\\  \  Officer.  Yet,  Sire 

Emperor  (after  hesitating).  No,  no!  I  will 
not  so  stain  my  name. 

Chancellor.  I  am  with  you.  Sire,  but  I  fear 
it  will  not  be  so  with  France.  She  has 
grown  cynical.  She  will  find  the  road 
through  Belgium. 

Emperor.  You  seek  to  tempt  me.  She  also 
signed  the  treaty. 


"DER  TAG"  9 

Chancellor.  Your  Imperial  Majesty  judges 

others  by  yourself.     I  have  private  ground 

for  fearing  that  in  the  greed  for  a  first 

advantage  France  will  call  the  treaty  but 

a  scrap  of  paper. 
Emperor.  I  think  your  private  ground  may 

be  your  own  private  newspaper. 
Chancellor.    She    will   say   that   necessity 

knows    no    law,    or    some    such    dastard 

words. 
Emperor.  Belgium  is  no  craven.     She  will 

fight  the  betrayer. 
Chancellor.    France    will    hack    her    way 

through  her. 
Emperor.  My  Chancellor,  that  is  a  hideous 

phrase. 
Chancellor.  I  ask  your  pardon.  Sire.     It 

came,  somehow,  pat  to  my  lips. 
Officer.  Your  Imperial  Majesty,  the  time 

passes.     Will  it  please  you  to  sign  ? 
Chancellor.   Bonaparte  would  have  acted 

quickly. 
Emperor.  Bonaparte! 
Chancellor.  The  paper.  Sire. 


10  "DER  TAG" 

Emperor.  Leave  it  now  with  me.     Return  in 
an  hour  and  you  shall  have  it  signed. 

Officer  (warningly).  The  least  delay 

Chancellor.  Overmuch  reflection 

Emperor.  I  wish  to  be  alone. 

(They  retire  respectfully^  but  anxious. 
He  is  left  alone  in  thought.) 

Emperor.  Even  a  King's  life  is  but  a  day, 
and  in  his  day  the  sun  is  only  at  its  zenith 
once.  This  is  my  zenith;  others  will 
come  to  Germany,  but  not  to  me.  The 
world  pivots  on  me  to-night.  They  said 
Bonaparte,  coupling  me  with  him.  To 
dim  Napoleon !  Paris  in  three  weeks — 
say  four,  to  cover  any  chance  miscalcula- 
tion; Russia  on  her  back  in  six,  with 
Poland  snapping  at  her,  and  then,  after  a 
breathing  space,  we  reach — ^The  Day! 
We  sweep  the  Enghsh  Channel,  changing 
its  name  as  we  embark,  and  cross  by  way 
of  Calais,  which  will  have  fallen  easily 
into  our  hands,  the  British  fleet  destroyed 
^; — for  that  is  part  of  the  plan — Dover  to 


"DER  TAG''  11 

London  is  a  week  of  leisured  marching, 
and  London  itself,  unfortified  and  panic- 
stricken,  falls  in  a  day !  Vce  victis  I  I'll 
leave  conquered  Britain  some  balls  to 
play  with,  so  that  there  shall  be  no  up- 
rising. Next  I  carve  America  in  great 
mouthfuls  for  my  colonists,  for  now  I 
strike  the  seas.  It's  all  so  docketed.  I 
feel  it's  as  good  as  done  before  I  set  forth 
to  do  it.  Dictator  of  the  world!  And 
all  for  pacific  ends.  For  once,  the  whole 
is  mine.  We  come  at  last  to  the  great 
desideratum,  a  universal  peace.  Rulers 
over  all !  God  in  the  heavens,  I  upon  the 
earth — ^we  two !  {Raising  his  brows  threat- 
eningly)  And  there  are  still  the  Zeppelins  I 
I'll  sign ! 

(He  sits  in  thought  He  is  very  tired, 
and  soon  he  is  asleep.  The  lighting 
becomes  strange;  he  dreams ,  and  we  see 
his  dream.  The  Spirit  of  Culture 
appears,  a  noble  female  figure  in 
white  robes.) 


12  *^DER  TAG" 

Emperor.  Who's  that? 

Culture.  A  friend.  I  am  Culture,  who  has 
so  long  hovered  well-placed  over  happy 
Germany. 

Emperor  (who  gives  her  royal  honor).  A  friend 
— a  consort!  I  would  hear  you  say,  O 
Queen,  that  I  have  done  some  things  for 
you. 

Culture.  You  have  done  much  for  me.  I 
have  held  my  head  higher  since  you  were 
added  to  the  roll  of  sovereigns.  I  may 
have  smiled  at  you  at  times,  as  when  you 
seemed  to  think  that  you  were  the  two 
of  us  in  one,  but  as  Kings  go  you  have 
been  a  worthy  King. 

Emperor.  It  was  all  done  for  you. 

Culture.  So,  for  long,  I  thought.  I  looked 
upon  Germany's  golden  granaries,  plucked 
from  ground  once  barren;  its  busy  mills 
and  furnaces,  its  outstretching  commerce 
and  teeming  people  and  noble  seats  of 
learning,  all  mellowing  in  the  sun,  and  I 
heard  you  say  they  were  dedicate  to  me. 


^^DER  TAG"  13 

and  I  was  proud.  You  have  honored  me, 
my  Emperor,  and  now  I  am  here  to  be 
abased  by  you.  All  the  sweet  garments 
you  have  robed  me  in,  tear  them  off  me 
and  send  me  naked  out  of  Germany. 

Emperor.  You  would  not  have  me  sign? 

Culture.  I  warn  you  first  to  know  your- 
seM,  you  who  have  gloated  in  a  looking- 
glass  too  long. 

Emperor.  I  sign,  so  that  Germany  may  be 
greater  still,  to  spread  your  banner  far- 
ther; thus  I  make  the  whole  world  cul- 
tured. 

Culture.  My  banner  needs  no  such  spread- 
ing. It  has  ever  been  your  weakness  to 
think  that  I  have  no  other  home  save  here 
in  Germany.  I  have  many  homes,  and 
the  fairest  is  in  France. 

Emperor.  If  that  were  true,  Germany  would 
care  less  for  you. 

Culture.  If  that  is  true,  I  have  never  had 
a  home  in  Germany.  I  am  no  single 
nation's  servant,  no  single  race's  Queen. 


J 


14  V     "DER  TAG" 

I  am  not  of  German  make.     My  banner 

is  already  in  every  land  on  which  you 

would  place  your  heel.     Culture  spreads 

,  not  by  way  of  maiming  freedom.    I'll  not 

/  have  you  say  you  fight  for  me.    Find  some 

•  other  reason. 

Emperor.  The  jealousies  of  nations 

Culture.  All  are  guilty  there.  Jealousy, 
not  love  of  money,  is  the  root  of  all  evil; 
that  was  a  misprint.  Yet  I  know  of 
nothing  those  others  want  that  is  yours 
to  give,  save  peace.  What  do  you  want 
of  them.^  Bites  out  of  each,  and  when 
they  refuse  to  be  dismembered  you  cry: 
"The  blood  be  on  their  heads;  they  force 
me  into  war.'' 

Emperor.  Germany  must  expand.  That  is 
her  divine  mission;  I  have  it  from  on  high. 

Culture.  Your  system  of  espionage  is  known 
to  be  tolerably  complete. 

Emperor.  All  Germany  is  with  me.  I  hold 
in  leash  the  mightiest  machine  for  war 
ike  world  has  forged. 


"DER  TAG"  16 

Culture.  I  have  seen  your  legions,  and  all 
are  with  you.  Never  was  a  Lord  more 
trusted.  O  Emperor,  does  that  not  make 
you  pause  ? 

Emperor.  France  invades  little  Belgium. 

Culture.  Chivalrous  France!  Never!  Em- 
peror, I  leave  one  last  word  to  you  at  the 
parting  of  the  ways.  France,  Russia, 
Britain,  these  are  great  opponents,  but 
it  is  not  they  will  bring  the  pillars  of  Ger- 
many down.    Beware  of  Belgium! 

(She  goes.  He  is  left  in  two  minds.  He 
crosses  to  sign.  He  flings  down  the 
pen.  He  strikes  the  bell.  Chancel- 
lor and  Officer  reappear.) 

Chancellor.  Your  Imperial  Majesty  has 
signed  ? 

Emperor.  Thus  (he  tears  the  paper). 

Officer.  Sire! 

Emperor.  Say  this  to  Russia,  France,  and 
Britain  in  my  Imperial  name:  So  long  as 
they  keep  within  their  borders  I  remain 
in  mine. 


16  "DER  TAG" 

Officer.  But,  Sire 

Emperor.  You  know,  as  I  do,  that  it  is  all 

they  ask  for. 
Chancellor.  You  were  the  friend  of  Aus- 
tria. 
Emperor.  I'll  prove  it.  Tell  her  from  me 
that  Servia  has  yielded  on  every  point 
which  doth  become  a  nation  and  that 
Austria  may  accept  her  terms. 

Chancellor.  Nay,  Sire 

Emperor.  And  so,  there  will  be  no  war. 

Officer.  Sire,  we  beg 

Emperor.  These  are  my  commands. 

{They  have  to  go^  chagrined^  hut  defer- 
ential.) 
Emperor.  The  decision  lay  with  me,  and  I 
said  there  shall  be  peace.     That  be  my 
zenith ! 

{He  goes  hack  to  the  chair;  he  sleeps 
"peacefully;  in  the  distance  a  hell  tolls 
the  AngeluSy  and  suddenly  this  is 
hroken  hy  one  hoom  of  a  great  gun^ 
which  reverherates  and  should  he  start- 


"DER  TAG"  17 

ling.     The  Spirit  of  Culture  re- 

turns,    now    with    a    wound   in    her 

breast;  she  surveys  him  sadly.) 

Culture.    Sleep   on,   unhappy   Ejng.      {He 

grows  restless.)     Better  to  wake  if  even 

your  dreams  appal  you. 

{He  wakes,  and  for  a  moment  he  scarcely 
understands  that  he  has  been  dream- 
ing; the  realization  is  tragic  to  him.) 
Emperor.   You!     You  have  come  here  to 

mock  me ! 
Culture.  Oh,  no. 

Emperor.  I  dreamed  there  was  no  war.    In 

my  dream  they  came  to  me  and  I  forbade 

the  war.     I  saw  the  Fatherland  smiling 

and  prosperous,  as  it  was  before  the  war. 

Culture.  It  was  you  who  made  the  war,  O 

Emperor! 
Emperor  {huskily).    Belgium? 
Culture.   There   is   no   Belgium   now,   but 
over  what  was  Belgium  there  rests  a  soft 
light,  as  of  a  helm,  and  through  it  is  a  flam- 
ing sword. 


18  "DER  TAG" 

Emperor.  I  dreamed  I  had  kept  my  plighted 
word  to  Belgium. 

Culture.  It  was  you,  O  Emperor,  who  broke 
your  plighted  word  and  laid  waste  the 
land.  In  the  lust  for  victory  you  vio- 
lated even  the  laws  of  war  which  men  con- 
trive so  that  when  the  sword  is  sheathed 
they  may  dare  again  face  their  Maker. 
Your  way  to  Him  is  lighted  now  by 
smouldering  spires  and  ashes  that  were 
once  fair  academic  groves  of  mine,  and 
you  shall  seek  Him  over  roads  cobbled 
with  the  moans  of  innocents. 

Emperor.  In  my  dream  I  thought  England 
was  grown  degenerate  and  would  not 
fight. 

Culture.  She  fought  you  where  Crecy  was, 
and  Agincourt,  and  Waterloo,  with  all 
their  dead  to  help  her.  The  dead  be- 
came quick  in  their  ancient  graves,  stirred 
by  the  tread  of  the  island  feet,  and  they 
cried  out:  "How  is  England  doing .'^" 
The  living  answered  the  dead  upon  their 


"DER  TAG^**  19 

bugles  with  the  ''AlFs  well."  England, 
O  Emperor,  was  grown  degenerate,  but 
you,  yoUy  have  made  her  great. 

Emperor.  France,  Russia  ? 

Culture.  They  are  here  around  your  walls. 

Emperor.  My  people  ? 

Culture.  I  see  none  marching  but  men 
whose  feet  make  no  sound.  Shades  of 
your  soldiers  who  pass  on  and  on,  in 
never-ending  lines. 

Emperor.  Do  they  curse  me  ? 

Culture.  None  curses;  they  all  salute  you 
as  they  pass.  They  have  done  your  bid- 
ding. 

Emperor.  The  women  curse  me  ? 

Culture.  Not  even  the  women.  They,  too, 
salute  you.  You  were  their  Father  and 
could  do  no  wrong. 

Emperor.  And  you  ? 

Culture.  I  have  come  with  this  gaping 
wound  in  my  breast  to  bid  you  farewell. 

Emperor.  God  cannot  let  my  Germany  be 
utterly  destroyed. 


20  ^^DER  TAG'' 

CuLTUKE.  If  God  is  with  the  Allies,  Ger- 
many will  not  be  destroyed.  Farewell. 
{She  is  going.  She  lifts  a  pistol  from 
the  table  and  puts  it  in  his  hand.  It 
is  all  she  can  do  for  her  old  friend. 
She  goes  away  with  shining  eyes. 
The  penny  dip  burns  low.  The  great 
Emperor  is  lost  in  its  shadows.) 


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